Flu Epidemic Hitting Children the Hardest

The flu has reached epidemic levels and children are among the hardest hit.

The seasonal illness is widespread in at least 40 states, and has killed at least 10 people in the last week.

The illness has forced Indianapolis hospitals to restrict visitors. Administrators have banned those with flu-like symptoms from seeing patients.

H1N1, the most common strain, took a deadly turn in Hendersonville, Tenn. Savannah Hyden, 11, died within 72 hours of being diagnosed with the virus.

Hyden's family said she had not been vaccinated. In a television interview, Hyden's aunt, Tiffany Moore, made an emotional plea for parents to have their children vaccinated.

"Please don't ignore it. If you haven't been vaccinated, do your research and decide if you want to vaccinate your child," Moore said.

"We're supposed to bury our grandparents," she continued. "We're supposed to bury our parents, eventually. But we're not supposed to bury babies."

Doctors say a flu shot is still the best defense.